India, Feb. 20 -- The Gujarat government on Thursday issued a resolution revising its 2015 guidelines for approving construction projects near Asiatic lion habitats. The new rules modify how restaurants, resorts, homestays, farmhouses, and other commercial establishments can be built in areas around the Gir National Park, Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Paniya Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary.

Under the revised guidelines, a district-level committee headed by the collector, along with a deputy forest officer, district development officer, and district police head, will take decisions about development projects, a significant shift from the previous provisions where requests for construction within 5 kilometres of protected are...